Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about changes to the Right to Buy scheme. We cannot investigate complaints about the Council’s management of social housing.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained that changes to the Right to Buy scheme has caused him to move out of his home and financial loss.
2. He says the Council did not give enough notice about changes to the scheme.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
4. We cannot investigate complaints about the provision or management of social housing by a council acting as a registered social housing provider. (Local Government Act 1974, paragraph 5A schedule 5, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

5. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
6. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

7. Mr X says he signed a tenancy agreement with the Council in 2023. The agreement said he would have the right to buy his Council property after 3 years at 50% of its value. This information was correct at the time it was given.
8. Mr X says Government changes to the scheme in November 2024 have caused him financial loss and he had to move out of his home. He says the Council did not give enough notice about changes to the scheme.
9. In its complaint response, the Council said it was not responsible for the changes, which were decisions made by Central Government. It said Right to Buy scheme changes were published on its website without delay in November 2024.
10. The provision and management of social housing is not within the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction. We cannot investigate a complaint about whether the Council should have told Mr X sooner about the changes in discount to the Right to Buy scheme. Further, if Mr X had disagreed with the valuation of his property, it would have been reasonable to expect him to appeal to the District Valuer. For these reasons, we will not investigate further.

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Final decision

11. We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council, acting as his landlord, because the management of social housing is out of jurisdiction for the Ombudsman.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman